Located a mere 6.78 miles from each other, Atlee High school and Hanover High school can be considered neighbors.  Fans and players alike frequent the same areas in their recreational time. 

  This past Friday, the capacity filled parking lots, where fans also parked at the neighboring middle schools, showed the interest in this year’s football contest between the two schools.  Plus this was an important Capital District game for both teams’ playoff hopes. 

  The Hawks however, were both less than neighborly and accommodating when they traveled to Atlee’s senior night last Friday on Halloween Eve.  With a mist of rain in the skies, the Hawks (5-3, 2-2) used a power running game and a physical defense to defeat the Raiders (5-3, 2-2) 28-7. 
  The Raiders’ usually stout defense was put in a bad situation early in the game.  On Atlee’s first possession, quarterback Drew Ferguson fumbled the ball directly into the hands of Hanover’s Danny Trsic who returned it all the way 8-yard line.  Three plays later, running back Chris Lee put the Hawks up 7-0. 

  The contest would remain a defensive battle for the remainder of the half. 
  By the second half, the tide changed as the Hawks running game began to take its toll on a Raider defense that was on the field seemingly too long.

  “They just looked tired in the second half,” said Hanover junior running back Deane Cheatham who finished with 154 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. “I’ve been sick all week but they just couldn’t stop us.  It was easy the second half.  We just felt stronger.”

  In the second half, the Hawks had long scoring runs from Cheatham (34-yard touchdown) and freshman quarterback Sam Rogers (44-yard touchdown). 

  “That (offensive) line really stepped up and gave us some big holes the second half,” said an ecstatic Hanover head coach Joshua Just. “I was really proud of them; having a big guy like Deane Cheatham and Sam Rogers running the ball with that line helps.  They really went after it.”

  While the offense was a big part of the outcome of the game, the defense for both teams set the tone early. 

  Hoping to establish a pass rush, both Atlee and Hanover were called for off-sides multiple times.  However, the Hawks seemed to be able to apply the pressure on Atlee quarterback Drew Ferguson on every third down causing the Raiders to fall apart at times.

  “I think we did unravel, I’m not going to lie,” said Atlee head coach Roscoe Johnson. “I told the kids I am the reason why we lost.  I should have done a better job of preparation and did a better selection of play calling.  (Hanover) did some things I didn’t think they were going to do.  I give it to coach Just and his staff; they did a heck of a job on the defense.  We couldn’t stop them and that’s my fault.”

  While Johnson recognized the preparation of Hanover’s players, Hawks’ senior linebacker Blake Jones was quick to point out the key in preparing for an opponent.  He credits Just. 

  “He is a teacher and if he gave a test I think he was watching film during a test,” joked Jones of his head coach who is a chemistry teacher at Hanover. “I think he was watching film 24 hours.” 

  Atlee was able to avoid a shutout at home when Ferguson scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 5:10 seconds left to go in the fourth quarter. 

  Though the Raiders fell to a neighbor rival, to Johnson there is no time to get down about this loss.  “Next from here are two games at Highland Springs and Lee-Davis,” he said. “We respect them but we don’t fear them.  We are fighting for a playoff spot.  We’re going to battle.”

  Hanover’s next game is at Henrico and their tricky wing T offense. “We have to beat Henrico,” said Just which was also the same response given when the question was poised to senior linebacker Blake Jones. 

  According to Jones his team is ready for the challenge ahead. “I am so proud of our guys and what we have done this year,” Jones said. “I am so glad and thankful to be on this team.  We are on a roll right now.”

Hanover….....................7 0 7 14—28
Atlee .............................0 0 0   7— 7
H — Lee 1 run (Palmen kick)
H — Trsic 11 pass from Rogers (Palmen kick)
H — Cheatham 34 run (Palmen kick)
H — Rogers 44 run (Palmen kick)
A — Ferguson 5 run (Boothe kick)